Summer Down Under
Why July and August can be the best months to visit Australia!

The vast land mass of Australia is really a country of two halves when it comes to weather and therefore the best time to visit, to make the most of your journey South.  Whilst thoughts of Christmas down under conjure up images of barbecues and surfing on Bondi, this isn’t the time of year to travel to some of the country’s most iconic and unique destinations such as FNQ (Far North Queensland) and the Northern Territories (Kakadu, Arnhemland and the Red Centre) as well as parts of Western Australia.

During late July / August you can expect blue skies and temps in the early 30s in the Northern Territories, slightly lower in FNQ with more chance of precipitation, it is of course rainforest after all!  During Christmas, temperatures become hard to manage in the NT and rainfall in FNQ can be very persistent with flooding, not to mention box jellyfish which can be found in local waters from October though to June.   Our Summer is most definitely therefore the best time to visit this amazing, multi-UNESCO awarded region of Australia!.

Further it’s not as far as the South!  Darwin is only a 4.5 hour direct flight from Singapore, Cairns a little further at approximately 6 hours, so if you have two weeks or so, you have plenty of time to explore and then return at a different time, during our Winter, to check out iconic cities such as Sydney and Melbourne and the wildlife hub of Kangaroo Island.

So what can you experience in Northern Australia during our Summer?

Northern Territories

Kakadu is dual-listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for outstanding natural and cultural values – only a few dozen sites around the globe match this status.   The Park is a living cultural landscape. When you visit, you’ll be able to learn more about its archaeological sites, cave paintings and rock carvings which record the way of life of Aboriginal people who have lived here for tens of thousands of years, creating one of the longest historical records of any group of people in the world. 

The ancient Escarpment and Stone Country spans more than two billion years of geological history. It’s rivers and coastal floodplains are more dynamic environments, shaped by changing sea levels and big floods every Summer. The Park is a unique example of a complex of ecosystems, including tidal flats, floodplains, lowlands and plateaux, and provides a habitat for a wide range of rare or endemic species of plants and animals.  Head out on a boat to spot salties, water buffalo and a plethora of birdlife, or take a dip in a billabong fed by a natural waterfall, checked each year for crocs after the floods by the rangers, so it’s safe to swim!

Far North Queensland

This pocket of Australia also holds two UNESCO World Heritage Status features, namely the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. 

The Great Barrier Reef contains the world’s largest collection of coral reefs, with 400 types of coral, 1,500 species of fish and hosts species of great scientific interest such as the dugong and large green turtle which are threatened with extinction and globally important breeding colonies of seabirds.  Travellers can visit the reef on a day cruise or spend a few nights on one of the islands.

Part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland, the Daintree rainforest is over 180 million years old and famed for its ancient ecosystem and rugged natural beauty.  It was awarded World Heritage status for its incredible biodiversity – it’s home to 663 species of animals ranging from tree kangaroos to cassowaries, 230 butterfly species and over 2,800 different types of plants – many of which are not found anywhere else. Embark on an adventure with the Mossman Gorge Centre to explore this stunning region through the lens of local Aboriginal people or perhaps meet the Daintree’s unique nocturnal creatures such as possums and sugar gliders and on a guided night walk!

If you don’t mind a little more travel….!

Red Centre

The Red Centre is the heart of Australia, including another World Heritage-listed region of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and Kings Canyon.  Learn more about ancient Aboriginal culture, explore breathtaking scenery, witness stunning outback sunsets, and star gaze under the clearest skies in the world.  Two iconic experiences also take place here – The Field of Lights art installation is now a global phenomenon, where 50,000 solar-powered spheres light a vast area, whilst The Sounds of Silence is the ultimate dining experience, enjoying fine food and wine as you watch sun set over Uluru before an astronomer brings the night sky to life.

If you’re feeling more active, explore the dramatic rock formations of Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) and Kings Canyon on foot or climb aboard a mountain bike or camel for a guided journey around the base of Uluru!   

Ayers Rock Airport can be accessed from Cairns by direct flight of just under 3 hours.

North-Western Australia

Besides the red desert of the Cape Range lies the turquoise lagoons of Ningaloo Reef, also World Heritage-listed, home to some of the world’s most incredible marine species.  Between March and July each year, the whale sharks glide by, so easily viewable by snorkelling or diving, before the humpbacks arrive in August, and that’s before mentioning the manta rays!  Make a journey of it and drive North from Perth (13 hours) along the Coral Coast via the Pinnacles Desert or take a flight to nearby Learmouth / Exmouth.

Finally top and tail your Australian Summer adventure with a stay in Singapore, and you’ll have created an unforgettable trip!

About the author

Abi Shaw - Founder